Sacred pipe of Grand Portage hereditary chief returning home after 87 years
The St. Louis County Historical Society will repatriate sacred pipes, including one tied to Grand Portage’s last hereditary chief, during a community event Saturday
The St. Louis County Historical Society will return sacred pipes to the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa during the Honor Our Elders Powwow on Saturday, according to MPR News. One pipe belonged to Joseph Maymaushkowaush, the band’s last hereditary chief, who led during the 1880s and inherited the title from his grandfather, a signer of the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe. The pipe was donated to the historical society in 1939 and remained in its collection for nearly 90 years.
According to MPR News, the repatriation followed years of work under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. Grand Portage Band member Michele Hakala-Beeksma identified the pipe during a museum inventory review after recognizing the chief’s name in historical records. Officials with the St. Louis County Historical Society said the return reflects a broader effort to shift museum practices from ownership toward stewardship and collaboration with tribal communities.
- 1.Melissa Olson. MPR News, .
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